Help me get to single digits please

[mapa94]

I'm a weekend golfer (44 years old) who plays once a week (sometimes twice) and I try to practice at least once a week (short game and driving range).

Been stuck between 11-12 handicap for over a year after making steady progress after a series of lessons (I've been playing 5 years).

I'm short off the tee (average 220 yds) but relatively accurate (65% fairways) and hit 6 greens per round (on average), get up and down 25% of the time, and average 31 putts. My stats stay very consistant and I play much better on shorter courses (<6200 yards).

Besides lessons ($ is tight right know), can you give me some areas to focus on and practice drills to improve my game. I'd like to become a 9 handicap by the end of the year.

Thanks in advance for your help

[senorchipotle]

i'd say go and practice two more times a week if possible.

[delav]

I'm a weekend golfer (44 years old) who plays once a week (sometimes twice) and I try to practice at least once a week (short game and driving range).

Can you post any videos of your swing? What types of things has your pro been working with you on? 65% fairways, 25% up and downs on missed GIR's and 31 putts per round isn't a bad starting point at all. 220 off the tee will make scoring hard though, golf is easier with a wedge than a long iron. Perhaps we can notice a few things to improve your swing mechanics and distance.

[mapa94]

Thanks for the replies; I'm sorry I don't have videos of my swing. My lessons were 1 1/2 years ago and we focused mostly on irons and swing fundamentals. Before lessons I couldn't break 100 but I usually shoot in the 80's now.

My lack of distance seems to be a problem and I know that I don't do a good job of transferring my weight...especially on drives. When I get aggressive with my drives I tend to sway which results in terrible drives. Delav...you are right. When I play short tracks my lack of distance doesn't hurt me but longer courses make it very difficult to score. It's very hard to hit greens when I have long approach shots.

At 44 years I'm probably not getting any stronger or flexible but I have friends in the same shape/age I am in that have no problems hitting it 240 or better.

[Gerald]

If you play on short courses and you cannot manage more than 25% up & down, you'll have to focus getting better with your mid irons, anything from within 160 yds should be GIR or very close. It is my experience that GIR makes a par, but just off you could end up with a bogey very easely. You should also be working on accuracy with your longer irons and if your drives are only 220 yds, maybe it is better to focus on getting more than 65% teeshots on the fairway...... maybe it is best to hit let's say an iron 3 or 4 as your par 5's that you don't intend to reach in two !!!

Course management is the difference between HC 11 and HC 5 - 8 .....

[keiko]

Practice makes permanant so be careful with that to make sure you are practicing the right techniques.

I would say for those of us who found "the secret" we probably gave up the old "hit the crap out of it" philosophy and worked on making our swings smooth, balanced and without tension in arms. When you learn that the big muscles work the swing and loose the tension in arms and hands, you begin hinging the wrists which transfer power to the ball along with the centrifugal force of the swing. work on technique and perfect the above

I'm a weekend golfer (44 years old) who plays once a week (sometimes twice) and I try to practice at least once a week (short game and driving range).

[ks8829]

Improve your up and down percentage and you will be at 9 or less by the end of the year. when ever you play and miss the up and down chance, work on the shot that let you know along with steady practice of your putting everyday at home.

[mapa94]

Improve your up and down percentage and you will be at 9 or less by the end of the year. when ever you play and miss the up and down chance, work on the shot that let you know along with steady practice of your putting everyday at home.

Yes...I think 25% up and downs can be improved. My chipping is inconsistant and it is something that I can work on with practice. There is a golf course less than 1/2 mile from me with a good short game practice facility and I should probably spend more time chipping/putting over the driving range. I'll give it a try.

[kpaulhus]

Im trending downward with my Handicap and I only get up/down 35% of the time. I guess that extra 10% can be 1 or two strokes though. Keep working on the short game. In the end, the guy who hits it the furthest doesnt always win.

[Gerald]

Anoyher thing is with lowering handicaps that it mostly isn't a steady scale, but you practice on that, on this, etc. and suddely things come together and a month later suddely 3 strokes off .....